Petersburg Pilot -

Alaska seeks to advance exploration plan

JUNEAU (AP) — The state of Alaska on Tuesday proposed an exploration plan aimed at determining the oil and gas potential in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

It comes just over a week after Interior Secretary Sally Jewell, in a letter to Gov. Sean Parnell, said a seismic exploration proposal suggested by the state in May is prohibited under federal law and would require congressional authorization. She also reiterated the Obama administration's opposition to allowing drilling on the coastal plain of the refuge.

State Natural Resources Commissioner Dan Sullivan, during a news conference...